Three national ambassadors have been confirmed to support the FCA Endurance MultiSport Weekend, the first nationally-branded triathlon and multi-discipline sports event to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
National ambassadors for FCA Endurance MultiSport Weekend include Chris Lieto, three-time Ironman champion; Ryan Hall, two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner; and David Pollack, three-time All-American in football at the University of Georgia.
MultiSport Weekend will take place April 25 in Peachtree City. More than 3,000 participants are expected to pedal, run, swim and/or paddle in the inaugural event, which offers 16 different competitions based on the three main disciplines of the ‘70:4 Triathlon.’
Organizers of MultiSport Weekend, which benefits FCA and FCA Endurance, plan to add additional venues across the U.S. for 2016 and 2017. All three national spokespersons are active supporters of FCA.
The 70:4 Triathlon is the centerpiece for MultiSport Weekend, which will include a 1.3-mile (1.9K) swim, a 56-mile (90 K) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 K) run. This distance, 70.4 miles, has also been used by organizers to reinforce its branding with FCA and FCA Endurance, drawing inspiration from the Bible in Psalm 70:4.
Additional events offer a combination of running, cycling and aquatic sports disciplines for all levels of participants. There are 13 events for adults and three for children. All courses used for 70:4 triathlon and individual running disciplines will be certified:
• 70:4 Triathlon Individual
• 70:4 Triathlon Team Relay
• Aqua Bike (swim/bike only)
• Dry Land (bike/run only)
• Swim Only (1.3 mile)
• Double Swim (2.6 mile)
• Road Bike Only (56 mile)
• Fat Tire (35 mile)
• Half Marathon
• Run 10K
• Run 5K
• Paddle Board Short (1.3 mile)
• Paddle Board Long (2.6 mile)
• Kids Tri (Mini)
• Kids 1 Mile Fun Run
• Toddler Tot Trot
“I’m really excited to be a part of this unique and innovative event that provides an opportunity for people of all ages to challenge themselves at a variety of events and distances,” said Ryan Hall, who is the current U.S. record holder in the half marathon (59:43). At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Hall finished 10th in the marathon.
“What I love most about this event is that the heart behind it is to compete to the best of one’s ability for the sake of worshipping the One who gave us the ability to swim, bike, and run and cares intimately about every area of our lives, even sport,” he added.
Chris Lieto is also a recognizable name in the world of endurance sports. He has won three Ironman events and has three top-10 finishes at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. In 2011 he won the Ironman 70.3 National Championship in Texas and was a silver medallist at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Lieto holds many records for the fastest times on the bicycle in his triathlon career. Four years ago he founded MORE Than Sport, an organization that unites athletes, corporations and charities to change the lives of children and communities around the world.
Pollack gained attention for his all-around fitness as a top NCAA linebacker for the University of Georgia. He was a first-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals and played two seasons (2006-07). He retired from football after suffering a broken cervical vertebra, and is now a mainstay on the ESPN network as a College GameDay analyst.
“At the MultiSport Weekend, it’s important for people to have different goals. Here you have so many different options to compete, but they all end in the same spot. Everybody chooses an individual race, but the finish line is the same,” said Pollack, who plans to compete in the 70:4 Triathlon Team Relay in April.
Early registration discounts are available through Feb. 1 for each event, starting at $10-60 for running events, $45 for cycling events and $35-45 for swimming events. Discounts of $51 are available for 70:4 Multiple-discipline events, including Dry Land (bike/run), Aqua Bike (swim/bike) and individual or team triathlon, with early registration ranging from $179 to 299.
Local and national ambassadors for FCA Endurance MultiSport Weekend will take part in one of the 16 competitions in April. Each national spokesperson will also provide fitness, nutrition and motivational tips to help participants reach individual goals. Hall has committed to take part Jan. 31 in the 7 Touch Training Program, a series of sport-specific spiritual and physical gatherings to prepare participants for their selected disciplines.
The 7 Touch Training Program, which takes place in Peachtree City from January to April, is available at no extra charge for registered participants.
“We are honored to have an all-star line-up of spokespersons to support MultiSport Weekend and inspire people to become more active with FCA Endurance,” said Mark Anderson, the event’s executive director. “It is a very unique platform of 16 different competitions, with sports activities for the entire family. It is with the support and participation of national ambassadors like Ryan, David and Chris that MultiSport Weekend can encourage, equip and empower participants to make a difference for Christ.”
Peachtree City will host all venues for the 16 sports competitions in April, as well as a Family Festival. Local churches and the Fayette County adult huddle for FCA will host visitors on Sunday for fellowship activities.
Event operations will be overseen by Medalist Sports, a full-service, sports management and production company based in Peachtree City that specializes in professional cycling and cause-related events. The event is owned and managed by FFC Promotions in Peachtree City.
Partners for the inaugural MultiSport Weekend include Chick-Fil-A, Lexus South Atlanta, Peachtree-Fayette Sports Alliance, Piedmont Healthcare and Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
